Game board for a domino game

ABSTRACT

A Mexican Train Dominoes game includes a game board that defines a central recess corresponding to the train station hub of the game. The recess includes a platform on which an “engine” domino tile is placed to commence the game. The platform can be depressed to activate a sound generation component that is operable to produce simulated train sounds. The game board can include a circuit board that carries a resiliently depressible switch that is operably coupled to the platform. The switch can support the platform in its normal position and can restore the platform to that normal position after the “engine” domino and platform have been depressed during game play.

This application is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No.10/347,850, filed on Jan. 21, 2003, the disclosure of which is herebytotally incorporated by reference in its entirety.

CROSS REFERENCE

Cross reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. D484,922 (issued to Carl E.Voigt, IV), entitled “Domino Game Hub”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of recreational board games, andparticularly to a domino board game. More specifically, the inventionrelates to improvements in the game of “Mexican Train Dominoes”.

The game of dominoes has been played for centuries. The basic concept ofmost domino games is to eliminate or reduce the number of dominoes thata player has by matching them to dominoes previously laid during gameplay. Typically, the dominoes are matched by having like numbers of dotsat one end of each domino.

Through the years, many variations of the domino game have evolved. Onesuch variation is known as “Mexican Train Dominoes” in which playersbuild “trains” of dominoes. A typical Mexican Train dominoes game willinclude player markers in the form of miniature train engines ofdifferent colors. This train engine marker is used to indicate thestatus of a player's individual domino track.

The root of the game name is the Mexican Train that is independent ofthe player's trains and on which all players can lay a domino tile. Anumber of Mexican Trains can be created during game play, which providesthe players with more play options to lay domino tiles. When play isbegun, a single domino is centrally placed which serves as the “engine”for the game. Players must begin their individual train with a dominothat matches with the engine. In addition, new Mexican Trains can becreated when a tile is drawn that matches the engine.

As with most board games, part of the fun is the interaction betweenplayers and between the players and the game itself. There is always aneed for improvements to these board games, such as the Mexican TrainDominoes game, that add to the fun and excitement of the players.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to meet this need, the present invention contemplatesimprovements to the basis Mexican Train Dominoes game board. In oneembodiment, the board provides a central hub for receipt of the “engine”domino. The board defines a plurality of starting locations for theplayers, which can be in the form of notches defined in thecircumference of the board that are sized to receive one end of adomino. Each player is provided with a miniature train engine marker foruse throughout the game.

The surface of the game board can include decorative features suggestiveof the game itself. For instance, in one embodiment, the board includesa representation of a beginning train track segment that runs betweeneach domino starting notch and the central train station hub. In oneaspect of the invention, the representation of the track segmentincludes an upstanding ridge that can be used to support the player'strain engine marker during certain game conditions. In the typicalMexican Train Dominoes game, a player starts with his/her train markerat the track segment. If the player has a playable domino tile, thetrain is removed from the track segment and placed at the end of thedeveloping track of dominoes. However, if during game play a player isunable to lay a domino tile at the end of his/her personal track, thetrain marker must be returned to the track segment as an indication tothe other players that his/her individual track is available for playsby the other players. Consequently, each player's train engine markerwill likely spend a great deal of time on the beginning track segmentduring the course of a game. The upstanding ridge of the presentinvention helps retain the train engine marker in position on the gameboard so that it is readily visible to the other players.

Another feature of the invention adds to the excitement of play. Thisfeature provides a movable platform at the train station hub on whichthe “engine” domino is placed to begin game play. The movable platformis operably coupled to a switch that can be triggered to initiate thesound of a train and train whistle. During game play, if a domino tileis drawn that matches the “engine”, a player can begin a new MexicanTrain track. The player then signals the advent of this new train bydepressing the “engine” and ultimately the hub platform to activate theswitch. The other players have an audio signal that a new Mexican Traintrack is available for play. The signal also adds to the train ambianceof the game. When a player plays his/her last tile, the player can alsodepress the “engine” tile to signify the end of the game. Of course,this signal is less satisfying to the other players because it meansthat they must make a tally of the dots on their remaining dominoes.Nevertheless, the simulated train sounds add to the flavor and fun ofthe game, especially for the winner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the Mexican Train Dominoes game board inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a train engine marker used with the gameboard shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the game board shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the game board shown in FIG. 1,taken along line 4-4 as viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is partial view of the hub portion of the game board shown inFIG. 1, with the hub platform shown in exploded view.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional partial view of the hub portion of the gameboard in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and described in the following written specification. It isunderstood that no limitation to the scope of the invention is therebyintended. It is further understood that the present invention includesany alterations and modifications to the illustrated embodiments andincludes further applications of the principles of the invention aswould normally occur to one skilled in the art to which this inventionpertains.

Referring to FIG. 1, a game board 10 is provided as part of a MexicanTrain Dominoes game. The game board is preferably formed as a housing 30that includes an upper housing 31 and a lower housing 32 (see FIG. 3).Preferably, the housing is molded from material commonly used for games,such as plastic. The upper and lower housings 31, 32 can be connected inany known manner, such as by screws, snap-fit or even epoxy.

The game board is configured to facilitate the playing of the MexicanTrain game in accordance with the standard rules of the game. Thus, thehousing 30, and particularly the upper housing 31, can bear variousornamental and functional features. For instance, the upper housing 31defines a centrally located train station hub 12 that is used to receivethe “engine” domino 25, shown in phantom lines in the figure. The hub 12is preferably recessed within the game board 10 and is sized tocomfortably receive the “engine” domino. The hub recess is preferablysized to provide finger clearance around the domino so that the dominocan be manually removed when the game is over.

The housing also defines a plurality of player location corresponding tothe maximum number of players allowed for the game. Emanating from thetrain station hub 12 are a plurality of train track segments 14. Thesetrack segments correspond to the position of the game players andrepresent the starting point for the individual train of each player.The number of track segments normally corresponds to the number ofplayers for the game. The track segments 14 terminate at the perimeterof the upper housing 31 in a notch 16, as shown best in FIG. 3. Thenotch is sized to receive a player's initial train track domino, such asthe domino 26 shown in phantom in FIG. 1. The notch 16 is preferablysized so that the initial train track domino can only be positionedlengthwise in the notch, as shown in FIG. 1. In this way, the startingdomino 26 gives the appearance of continuing the track segment 14outside the game board 10.

As is traditional with the Mexican Train Dominoes game, each player isprovided with a game marker, such as the train engine marker 11 shown inFIG. 2. This marker 11 is placed on the free end of a player's dominotrack when that player has a domino tile to play. Alternatively, themarker 11 is placed on the starting track segment 14 when the playercannot place a tile on his/her domino track. This placement of themarker provides a visual indication to the other players that thatperson's personal track is available for placement of tiles by the otherplayers. In order to facilitate the display of the individual trainmarkers 11, the track segment 14 is provided with an upstanding ridge18. The train marker 11 is provided with wheels 20 that define a recess21 therebetween. The recess 21 is complementary to the ridge 18 so thatthe train marker can rest over the ridge. The ridge 18 will preventmovement of the train marker 11 during game play.

The present invention contemplates certain features to the game board 10that enhances the playing of the game and the enjoyment of theparticipants. In one feature, the game board is provided with a systemfor replicating the sound of a passing locomotive and train whistle. Inthe preferred embodiment, the central hub 12 includes a hub platform 40(see FIGS. 1, 4 and 5) on which the “engine” tile is placed at thebeginning of the game. The platform 40 is operatively coupled to aswitch 52, as shown in FIG. 4, so that the platform 40 can be depressedto toggle or activate the switch. The switch 52 can be part of a soundgeneration component or circuit board 50 that includes circuitry togenerate sounds that simulate a train locomotive. Of course, thegenerated sounds can simulate other sounds associated with a train toadd to the ambiance of the game. The circuit board is connected bywiring 56 to a speaker 54 that is supported on the housing 30. Thespeaker can be of known construction for low power, fixed volumeoperation. Preferably, the speaker is supported beneath sound openings57 (FIG. 1) defined in the upper housing 31.

The circuit board can also be connected to an indicator light 58(FIG. 1) that can be energized while the speaker 54 is active. Theindicator light would supplement the audible signal with a visualindication of the current game play. The indicator light 58 can be anLED with its power supplied by the circuit board 50 when the switch 52is actuated.

The circuit board can be of any known type capable of replaying apre-recorded or pre-determined sound. The circuitry can include a soundgenerator component that is capable of generating a synthesized sound.The circuit board may include a microprocessor, especially wheredifferent selectable sound sequences are desired. However, in the mostpreferred embodiment, the circuitry is of the known analog type. A powersupply (not shown), such as a battery may be mounted to the circuitboard or may be separately mounted within the housing 30 and wired tothe circuit board in a known manner. An access door 33 may be providedin the housing, such as in the lower housing 32 as shown in FIG. 3, toprovide access for replacement of the power supply, or battery.

The present invention contemplates means are provided for biasing theplatform 40 away from the switch. In one embodiment, this means forbiasing is incorporated into the switch 52, which can be a resilient,depressible switch of known configuration. As is known, the resilientswitch can spring back after being depressed and can incorporate aninternal spring or spring washer. In this preferred embodiment, theresilient switch 52 can essentially support the hub platform 40. Thus,the hub platform includes an actuation component 42 for actuating theswitch when the platform is depressed. In one embodiment, that componentis in the form of a downwardly extending boss 42 that extends into theinterior of the housing 30 into contact with the resilient switch 52.When the platform 40 is depressed by a player pressing on the “engine”domino, the actuation boss 42 pushes against and actuates the switch 52.Preferably the switch is an instantaneous switch, meaning that it neednot be maintained in its depressed position for the circuit board 50 tocommence and complete its sound generation function. In this case, oncethe switch has been initially closed or actuated, the resilient natureof the switch 52 will push back against the actuation boss 42 and pushthe hub platform back up to its normal position.

In order to hold the hub platform in position, the housing is providedwith a mounting plate 60 at the base of the train station hub 12, asshown in the detail view of FIG. 5. The mounting plate 60 includes acentral boss opening 62 through which the actuation component 42 extendswhen the hub platform 40 is disposed within the hub recess 12. To retainor capture the platform 40 within the hub recess, the platform can beprovided with retainer bosses 44 that extend downwardly and generallyparallel to the actuation boss 42. These bosses 44 extend throughcorresponding retainer openings 64 in the mounting plate 60. Preferably,two such retainer bosses and corresponding retainer openings areprovided at opposite long ends of the hub 12. The retainer bosses areconfigured to be engaged to retainers 70. The retainers 70 can include ahead 71 that is larger than the retainer opening 64, and a stem 72 thatis configured for engagement with the retainer boss 44. Preferably, theretainer boss 44 and stem 72 of the retainer 70 define a threadedengagement, such in the form of a threaded bore and screw combination.However, other permanent or semi-permanent engagements are contemplated,such as a press-fit or the use of an adhesive. Regardless of the form ofengagement, the hub platform 40 is captured in position within thehousing by the retainer bosses 44 and corresponding retainers 70.

To ensure that the hub platform does not bind within the hub recess 12during actuation, the platform can also include a plurality of guideposts 46 projecting downward into the housing. More specifically, theguide posts extend through guide openings 66 defined in the mountingplate 60, as shown in FIG. 5. The guide posts 46 are preferably offsetfrom a line between the retainer bosses so that the posts can providelateral or tilt stability to the hub platform 40. Most preferably, theplatform includes two such posts at each long end of the mounting plate60, with the two posts offset laterally from the centerline between theretainer bosses, as depicted in FIG. 5. With this arrangement, the hubplatform 40 is not likely to tilt or bind within the hub recess and theplatform will move smoothly and linearly when the platform is depressed.

In the preferred embodiment, the switch 52 is a resilient switch thatprovides the restoring force to return the hub platform 40 to itsnormal, un-depressed position within the hub recess 12. Alternatively,the restoring force can be provided by separate springs acting directlyin the hub platform itself. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, a modified hubplatform 40′ can be provided with a modified actuation boss 42′ that isused to activate a modified switch 52′. The switch 52′ is not aresilient switch, meaning that it is not operable to provide arestorative force to the hub platform after the switch has beendepressed. The switch 52′ can be a depressible switch, or it can be inthe form of adjacent contacts. In the latter case, the modified boss 42′can be provided with a bridging contact to complete the circuit betweenthe contacts of the switch 52′. In either case, the switch itself is notrelied upon to return the hub platform 40′ to its normal position.

The platform 40′ includes retainer bosses 44 that are engaged toretainers 70, both components of which can be the same as describedabove. However, with this embodiment, the means for biasing the platformaway from the switch can include a spring 80 disposed about eachretainer boss 44 between the hub platform 40′ and the mounting plate 60.The springs 80 thus generate an upward force on the hub platform 40′when it is depressed to restore the platform to its normal position. Theplatform 40′ can still include the guide posts 46 described above tokeep the platform stable when it is depressed.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same should be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood thatonly the preferred embodiments have been presented and that all changes,modifications and further applications that come within the spirit ofthe invention are desired to be protected.

For instance, in the preferred embodiments of the invention, the switch52, 52′ that activates the sound generation function is mounted on acircuit board remote from the hub platform 40, 40′ that is depressed toactivate the switch. Alternatively, the switch can be mounted on themounting plate 60 of the upper housing 31 directly beneath the hubplatform 40, 40′. The switch can be electrically connected to thecircuit board 50 by appropriate wiring.

In addition, the switch 52′ is described as a resilient, push-buttontype switch. Alternatively, the switch can be a toggle switch. Thetoggle can be connected to the hub platform 40′ so that the switch istoggled down when the platform is depressed and is toggled up when theplatform is pushed upward by the springs 80.

Yet another alternative concerns the speaker 54. In the illustratedembodiment, the speaker is shown advantageously mounted to the upperhousing 31 beneath speaker holes 57. Optionally, the speaker may bemounted within the housing and even on the circuit board. As a furtheralternative, the speaker can be eliminated if the sound generationcomponent is capable of producing a synthesized sound without the needfor a traditional speaker.

1. A domino game comprising: a plurality of player markers in the formof miniature train and including front and rear wheels defining a recesstherebetween; and a game board defining: a central recess sized toreceive a domino tile therein; a plurality of player locationsdistributed around a perimeter of said housing; a representation of atrain track segment arranged between each of said player locations; andan upstanding ridge within each train track segment, said ridgeconfigured for engagement within said recess of a corresponding playermarker to hold the position of said marker on said train track segment.